Self-energizing electrolytic corrosion preventing device



Aprll 26, 1949. U. J. BROWN 2,468,357

SELF-ENERGIZING ELECTROLYTIC CORROSION PREVENTING DEVICE Filed Nov. 25, 1946 Snoentor /a/ J. 5mm/f2. 5M #WM Gttornegs Patented Apr. 26, 1949 SELF-ENERGIZING ELECTROLYTIC COR- ROSION PREVENTING DEVICE Ual J. Brown, Oklahoma City, Okla.

Application November 25, 1946, Serial No. 712,127

2 Claims. l

This invention relates to corrosion and scale preventing devices and more particularly to a self contained electrochemical device for preventing the deposition of scale, corrosion and the like in radiators and engine cooling systems.

It is well known that the agitation and heat present in the solutions circulating through radiators and engine cooling systems cause the precipitation of calcium sulphates, and other materials from the water. Chemical and electrolytic action may be set up in the cooling system which corrodes the exposed surfaces thereof. This is particularly true in warm weather where the cooling liquid is relatively high in temperature. Many of these incrustations are hard adhering scale which is very diicult `to remove and often stop flow through the radiator or cooling system. Chemical treatment is sometimes used to remove the scale and corrosion particularly from motor car cooling systems, however, usually the chemical includes an active agent that is deleterious to the metal of the radiator and cooling system and sometimes such treatment results in leaks in the cooling system.

The principal objects of the present invention are to provide a self-contained all-metal electrolytic device for use in a cooling system in such a manner that water in the system passes around and through said electrolytic device; to provide a zinc alloy sacricial element in a corrosion preventing device; to provide an al1-metal electrolytic device of dissimilar metals, one consisting of an electro-negative element with respect to iron and the other an electro-,positive element with respect to iron, which when placed in the water of a cooling system generates a slight electric current; to provide an electrolytic device of dissimilar metals wherein an element of metal such as zinc acting as a negative electrode is supported in a barrel formed of metal such as copper acting as a positive electrode; to provide a self-contained clectrolytic device of dissimilar metals with members for mounting said device in a radiator hose connection between a radiator and engine; to provide for mounting an electrolytic device of this character in a cooling system duct in spaced relation to the walls thereof; to provide an e1ectro' lytic device that will perform successfully in any conventional brand of antifreeze used in engine cooling systems; to provide resilient members on a self-contained electrolytic device for mounting same in a cooling system; to provide a resilient mounting for the sacrificial elements in an electrolytic device; and to provide a corrosion and scale preventer of this character which is simple in construction, ecient in operation, economical to manufacture and readily installed in a cooling system,

In accomplishing these and other objects of the present invention, I have provided improved details of structure, the preferred form of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Fig. 1 is an elevational view of a corrosion and scale preventer embodying the features of the present invention, the unit being shown mounted in a radiator hose connecting a radiator with an engine cooling system.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the self-contained electrolytic device.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the electrolytic device supported in a radiator hose.

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional View through the electrolytic device with the resilient mounting members arranged to permit the device to be installed in short lengths of radiator hose.

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view lthrough the electrolytic device illustrating the shell as plated with a metal lower in the electrochemical series.

Referring more in detail to the drawings:

I designates a corrosion and scale prevention device consisting of dissimilar metals adapted to be immersed in the cooling liquid in an engine cooling system, and preferably mounted in a hose connection 2 of an engine 3 and radiator 4. As illustrated in Fig. 1, the engine 3 is preferably provided with a water pump 5 having an inlet 6 connected by a hose l' with the lower end of the radiator 4, whereby operation of the engine will cause water to be drawn from the lower part of the radiator and forced upwardly through the engine to a connection 8 at the upper end thereof, said connection being connected with the upper portion of the radiator by means of the hose connection 2. In the illustrated instance the engine is provided with a fan 9 adapted to draw air through the radiator to cool the water passing therethrough, The engine and the radiator as illustrated do not form any part of the invention other than illustrating a paricular adaptation of the self-contained corrosion preventing device for protecting the radiator and cooling system from scale, rust and the like.

The corrosion preventing device l consists of dissimilar metal electrodes, the positive electrode preferably being in the form of a tubular shell I0, circular in cross-section and smaller in diameter than the hose connection 2 or other space in which the device is to be mounted whereby free ow of water may be had around the device. The shell I is of suc-h length that it may be conveniently placed in a conventional radiator hose 2 and be entirely contained in the length thereof between the engine and radiator connection. Located adjacent the ends I I and I2 of the shell I0 are diametrically opposite slots I3 and |63 and I and I5 respectively adapted to receive resilient members I'I and I3 for supportinga negative' electrode element I9 in the shell. The element I9 is preferably of zinc andthe shell of copper or brass. The element I9 may be 0f any cross-sectional shape, however, it is preferably square as illusn trated, and is slightly longer than the spacing between the outer edges of the slots I3 and I5, the ends and 2l of said element I9 being provided with threaded apertures 22 and 23 adapted to receive screws or like fastening devices 22 preferably of the same material as the material of the shell I@ for securing the members 'l and IS to the negative electrodeelement i9 for sup`- porting said element profeita-blyv in coaxial relation with the shell I.

The members Il and I8 preferably consist of strips of spring brass of a width permitting insertion through the slots I2 and Ill and IE5/and I The central portions of the members I'I and I8 form bars extending diametrically across the shell I and engage the ends 2? and 2| respectively of the element lil,v the apertures 26 and 23 being arranged in the bar portions 25 to receive the screws 2e for insertion into the element It. The portions of the members 'I and I8 eatending outwardly from the slots It)- and I4 and I5 and I6 are preferably bent as at e27 in close proximity to the wall of the shell I0 whereby the' bends will prevent lateral movement of the bars 2 5,- therebi7 maintaining the element I9 substantially o n the axis of the shell I0. The bends 21 preferably are arranged whereby the ends of the members Il and I8 extend toward the ends of the shell Ie forming ngers 28 adapted to enga-ge the walls 29 of a hose connection 2 or other duct of the cooling system. In order to facilitate movement of the device into a hose connection, theou'teiA ends of the fingers 28 are preferably curved as at whereby no sharp edges will engage the Walls of the hose connection. The ngers 21 may also be bent as at 3l to arrange' the angular-ity of the lingers 28 with ythe wall 2S of the hose conn'ec`v tion to obtain the proper resiliency for a iirm mounting of the electrolytic device therein. It is obvious that the members I 'i and I8` being formed of spring brass will permit bending of said inember to adapt the spacing of the fingers 28 to iit various size hose connections and provide proper resiliency for positively anchoring the device therein.

The form of the device shown in Fig. 4 is substantially the same as that inA Fig. 3, except that the fingers 28 are bent as at 32 adjacent the shell I 0 and backwardly alongside the shell. The ends of the ngers are curved as atv 33 to engage the wall 29 of a hose connection 2. 'This arrangement of the mounting member permits the electrolytic device to be inserted in shorter lengths of hose connections than the form shown in Fig'. 3. It is believed obvious that the ngers as shown in 4 may be bent in the same manner as the 'fingers in the form shown in Fig. 3 to adjust the device to fit various sizes of hose connections.

It is to be noted that the dissimilar elements I I) and I9 are arranged in spaced relation and such dissimilar metals when so arranged and placed in a liquid containing foreign particles,

salts, or compounds of such to act as an electrolyte, set up a slight current of electricity providing corrosion protection for the metal through which the water flows.

In assembling a corrosion and scale prevention unit of the character described, the member Il is inserted through the slots I3 and I4 and bent as at 21 whereby the fingers 28 are of equal length, said fingers being bentto any angularity to adapt same for engagement in a hose connection 2. With this arrangement the aperture 2`6 in the bar 25 of said member II is preferably coaxial'with the shell I0. The element I9 is then placed in the shell I0, the aperture 22 being irialignment with the aperture 26. A screw orV other fastening device 24 is then inserted through the aperture 26 and into the aperture 2.2 to anchor said element I9 to the bar 25. The member I8 is then placed through the apertures I5 and I6 `while pressure is applied to the element I9I to torce saine toward the end I I of the shell I0 against the resiliency of the member' |i1 first appiiedtoy the. device. The member I8 i's arang'ecl`;` with the aperture 26 therein in alignment with the aperture 23 of the element I9. Thek fastening" deviceA 2-4 is then inserted throughv the apertures to anchor' the element I9 to said member I8'. The member I8 may then be' bent asv at 21 adjacent the wall of the shell Ill to hold the negative electrode el'ement I9 substantially coaliiial with the positive electrode on shell I0', the ends of the members I1 and I8 being shaped'to provide" fingers 28 of proper spacing' to rsilieiitly' eri-gage a hose connection or' other suitable duct in the engine cooling system. Y

The electrolytic' devi-ce may be applied tothe cooling System by loosening hose clamps 36v on the hose connection 2v and removing said hose from eitherv the' connection member 8 or the radiator. The electrolytic device I may then be inserted in the hose and sfaid hose replaced on the connecting member 8 and radiator, the clamps 36 being tightened to= hold same in assembled condition. The device is then ready for operation and will provide only slight resistance to free' iiow ofv liquidthrough the hose connennen. y

The opration f the eoi'rsion and` scale pre- Vtii device after it is ijlaoed in the hose C011- nection and cooling liquid placed iii the system is as follows. An electric current flows from ne element to the other iid the negative elctrode le, win be gradualiy disintegrated by chem ical atiii. Tl'l lirehtA f electricity created by the Slfentfie S'al prvention unit not only prevents formation f sca-1e 0n the metal of the equipment. but also causes the fluid flowing through the mtal members of the equipment to slowly dissolve Athe scale formations that are present thereon, thereby preventing stopping of ow through the equipment and eliminating leaks and breakage through cprrosion.

While I have particularly illustrated and described a self-contained corrosion and scale prevention device adapted to be placed in a hose connection or the like in a radiator and engine cooling system, it is obvious that the invention is adapted for other uses where water containing solutions of variou'scompounds of lime, sullhate and the like are found in which there are possibilities of scale or deposits forming on metal parts of the equipment.Y

From the foregoing it is apparent that I have provided a self-contained and self-energized electrolytic device for preventing corrosion and removing and preventing scale formations on the metal parts of equipment having water or like liquid and it is also apparent that the structure is particularly adapted for economical manufacture and facile installation and is not subject to breakage of the elements or other premature deterioration.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A self-energizing electrolytic apparatus for installation in a hose connection of a radiator and engine cooling system comprising a tube composed of metal constituting a positive electrode, said tube being open at each end, resilient strips extending across and engaging said tube adjacent the ends thereof and terminating in resilient iingers adapted to engage the wall of a hose connection for supporting the apparatus therein, said strips having bent portions lying alongside the tube for preventing transverse movement of said strip relative to the tube, a bar of metal constituting the negative electrode arranged in the tube and in concentric spaced relation thereto, said resilient strips being fastened to and supporting the ends of the bar.

2. A self-energizing electrolytic apparatus for installation in a hose connection of a radiator and engine cooling system comprising, a tube composed of metal constituting a positive electrode, said tube being open at each end and having diametrically opposed apertures adjacent each end thereof, resilient strips extending transversely of the tube and through said apertures,

said strips having bends exteriorly and adjacent said tube forming portions lying substantially alongside the tube and terminating in diverging iingers for resiliently engaging the Wall of the hose connection for supporting the apparatus therein, said bends substantially preventing transverse movement of the resilient strips re1- ative to the tube, a bar of metal shorter in length than the tube and constituting the negative electrode arranged in the tube and in concentric spaced relation thereto, said resilient strips being fastened to and supporting the ends of the bar.

UAL J. BROWN.

REFERENCES CITED The -following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 694,933 Chipman Mar. 4, 1902 2,058,370 Thompson Oct. 20, 1936 2,106,004 Inglee Jan. 18, 1938 2,223,504 Abbott Dec. 3, 1940 2,328,589 Walker Sept. 7, 1943 2,424,145 Butler July 15, 1947 2,425,424 Jones Aug. 12, 1947 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 2,435 Great Britain 1873 2,662 Great Britain 1885 311,882 Great Britain May 23, 1929 

